Using multiple data sources to enhance photogrammetry for mapping Antarctic terrain

Abstract

Extensive aerial photography cover is available for parts of the British Antarctic Territory, but the fisoffinfillijl characteristics of the photography, combined with the sparsity of ground control information and rugged snow-covered terrain, make photogrammetric mapping techniques difficult to apply. This paper shows, by reference to a new 1:50,000 scale topographic map of part of the Antarctic Peninsula, how merging topographic data from various sources in a GIS environment can make photogrammetric mapping more effective. Information sources used in the map compilation include three types of aerial photography, geo-referenced satellite imagery, surveyed points in a control network and satellite image-derived control points. A shape-from-shading algorithm was used to generate contours for snowfields where absence of surface detail prevented photogrammetric contouring. A horizontal and vertical accuracy of better than ±5 m was achieved in orientation of photography covering almost all of the map area. Such errors have allowed the construction of an accurate large-scale map for an area where previous mapping had been restricted to medium and small scales.